Electromagnetic switch and signal.



No. 768,350. PATENTED AUG. 23, 1904. s. B. STEWART, JR.

ELECTROMAGNETIC SWITCH AND SIGNAL.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 20, 1902. N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Fig.1.

494% b i v P a wmulnaagtfimmw a wi cnessezs. lnvmt'on I Samuel BOCewmfiJr? '4" W by A;

PATENTED AUG. 28, 1904;:

8. B. $TEWART, JR. ELECTROMAGNETIC SWITCH AND SIGNAL.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 20, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

lnventor". Samuel Bfitieworh J1? Wiifnesses.

UNITED STATES Patented August 23, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL B. STETVART, J lt, OF SOHENEOTADY, NElV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERALELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEXV YORK.

ELECTROMAGNETIC SWITCH AND SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,350, dated August23, 1904. Application filed May 20 1902. Serial No. 108,283. (No model.)

To (1/7/71 whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL B. STEWART, J r., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady,

' State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Electromagnetic Switches and Signals, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to electromagneticallyactuated switches withspecial reference to use in sectional-conductor railway systems, and hasfor its main object to provide said switch with an efficient signalingdevice, either audible or visual, which will serve as a warning to thepublic that the section of third-rail or working conductor which iscontrolled by said switch is energized and dangerous.

My invention consists of a novel arrangement of signals in connectionwith the electromagnetic switch, which signals serve to show when thesectional working conductor is alive or energized. To this end I providea signal or semaphore which is mechanically connected with said switchand which is actuated in one direction when the switch is opened and inthe opposite direction when the switch is closed and also an electricsignal which is connected in shunt to the switch-actuating coil.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of theelectromagnetic switch, showing the manner in which the switch ismounted in its protecting-casing. Fig. 2 is a vertical section, partlyin elevation, of the switch on the line 2 2, Fig. 8. Fig. 3 is a sideelevation of the switch with protecting-casing removed. Fig. 4 is a planView of the switch, showing the relative positions of the actuating-coiland blow-out-magnet coils, the signal devices being removed; and Fig. 5is a diagrammatic representation of a sectional railway system in whichmy improved switch may be used.

Referring to the figures of the drawings, A represents aprotecting-casing mounted on a pedestal B, and O represents a door forsaid casing. Mounted on the supporting-lugs 0 within the casing A is aninsulating-base Z), which carries the switch and switch-actuatingmechanism. The base Z) may be made of slate,

pressed fiber, or other insulating material. A casing D, of magneticmaterial, is provided with a cover E, which has a portion F extending asa stationary core into a non-magnetic spool g, on which the energizingcoil or solenoid H is wound. The stationary core F is shown in Fig. 2 asseparable from the cover E; but it might be formed integral therewith.The solenoid-core K carries at its lower end, which projects through anopening in the base 6, a switch or contact-brush S, which engages withthe contacts (Z, secured to the under side of the base 7). The switch Sis preferably made of laminated copper strips, which are mounted in theblock Zr, which is fastened to the core K by the bolt Z. Formed integralwith the block Zr are the lugs Z, which act as bearings for the shaftsp, on which the bell-crank levers n n are mounted. The auxiliarycontacts c, which also engage with the fixed contacts (Z, are removablymounted on the arms a of the bell-crank levers an. The arms a arenormally spread apart by the spring 6 and are electrically connectedtogether by the conducting-band w. The auxiliary contacts 0' leave thecontacts (Z later than the switch S, and thereby form a secondary break,and the only parts liable to injury by arcing when heavy currents areused are the said auxiliary contacts 0, which are made replaceable forthis reason. To reduce the injury due to arcing at the contacts, theblow-out magnets M are provided one for each contact-block (Z. Themagnetic circuit of one of these magnets may be traced on Fig. 3, inwhich 2 represents the core of the magnet, 3 3 the pieces for supportingthe core above the base Z, and 5 5 the poles below the base Z, betweenwhich poles one of the contacts (Z is mounted. The magnet-poles andcore-supporting pieces are held in place by means of the bolts 4 4,which pass through the base Z and form part of the magnetic circuit.Mounted on either side of each of the contact-blocks (Z are strips ofinsulating material 0, which form chutes along which the arcs formedwhen the switch is opened are blown. The casingA is provided withopenings R, which are protected by the hoods P, and the arcs areprojected through said openings by the blow-out magnets. The electricalcircuit for the blow-out magnets may be traced on Fig. 4:, as follows:The terminal a, to which the lead 7 from the feeder 6, Fig. 5, isconnected, is attached to the angle-piece u by means of the bolt 1',which passes through the base 5, the current flowing from said terminalthrough the bolt 1, angle-piece recoil m, angle-piece a, bolt 0', whichattaches angle-piece u to one of the fixed contacts (Z on the under sideof the base 5, through the contact-switch S and the auxiliary switch inparallel to the other contact (Z, through bolt r which connects theanglepiece a with said fixed contact (Z, through said angle-piece, coilm, angle-piece a bolt 1 and terminal 6, which is connected with thesectional working conductor 9 through the lead 8. (Shown in Fig. 5.)

The core K has an extension is attached to its upper end. On the upperend of said extension is fixed a slotted head 10, which engages with acrank-shaft 9, supported inthe bearings 6 bolted to the cover E. Looselymounted on the shaft g and connected therewith through the springs s arethe semaphorearms 8, carrying the disks 8 The semaphore-arms s arenormally in a horizontal position when the switch is open, but areraised to a vertical position when the switch is closed. A spring if,against which the head w strikes in its downward movement. is providedin a recess in the fixed core F to reduce the shock to the apparatuswhen the switch opens.

The upper part of the casing A, in which the semaphore-arms s operate,is provided with windows, the glasses of which are held in place by theretaining-rings B, Fig. 1. Mounted in the casing between the windows isa lamp or other visual signal L, which is electrically connectedin'shu'nt to the switchactuating coil H and indicates whether the coilis energized or not. The semaphoredisks 8 cannot be seen through thewindows when the switch is open, but are thrown into View when theswitch is closed, and are provided with openings 0 through which thelamp L, which is between the disks 8 when the semaphore-arms are intheir vertical position, may be seen when the disks are in the positionwhich indicates that the switch is closed.

The lamp and the semaphore-disks serve as I a check on each other toindicate the electrical condition of the working conductor; but thedisks serve as a preferable indicating-signal by day and the lamp bynight.

feeder of the system is represented by 6, and the rail-return by 11, thesectional working conductors, from which the motors carried by the carreceive their current, by 9 9, and the sectional switch-energizingconductors by 10 10. The feeder 6 is connected with the sec- D tionalconductor 9 through the switch S and leads 'T-and 8 and the coils of theblow-out magnets M. The switch-energizing conductor 10 is connected withthe rail-return through the switch-actuating coil H, leads 12 and 13,and resistances 16 and 17. Connected in shunt around the coil H throughthe leads 14 and 15 is the signal L. Means carried by the car connectthe sectional rails 9 and 10 together, either directly or through aresistance, as illustrated and described in my Patent No. 695,122,granted March 11, 1902, thereby con. necting the switch-actuating coil Hand signal L through the switch S between the feeder and return in shuntto the car-motors.

In operation the current necessary to energize the coil H when the carfirst starts is furnished by an auxiliary source of power carried by thecar, and as the car moves forward this source of power is disconnected,and the current for operating an advance switch is furnished from thefeeder through the rear switch and through bridging-shoes carried by thecar in a manner such as described in the patent referred to above. Asthe coil receives current the lamp or signal L is operated, thusindicating that the coil H is energized. WVhen the coil H issufficiently 'energized, the switch S is closed and the semaphore-disks8 appear at the windows, thereby clearly indicating the condition of thesection of the working conductor controlled by said switch.

The semaphore-disks and lamp may be of any color, preferably red. Thelamp is visible when the switch is closed through the openings 0 of thedisks 8 The lamp also serves to illuminate the semaphore-disks,rendering the same visible by night.

When the switch-actuating coil becomes deenergized, the switch S opensby gravity, and the arcs which occasionally form between the auxiliarycontacts 0 and the fixed contacts (Z are projected along the chuteformed by the insulating-guides 0 and through the openings R of thecasing A by the blow-out magnets M.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is

1. In a sectional-conductor railway system, a feeder connected with asource of currentsupply, a section of a working conductor, anelectromagnetic switch for connecting said feeder to said section, asection of an auxiliary conductor, and a switch-energizing coil and anelectric signal connected in parallel between said section of auxiliaryconductor and the return.

2. In a sectional-conductor railway system, a feeder connected with asource of currentsupply, a section of working conductor, a normally openelectromagnetic switch for connecting said section with said feeder, asignal mechanically connected with said switch for the purpose ofindicating when said switch is closed, and a lamp for illuminating saidsignal connected in shunt to the actuating-coil of said switch.

3. In a sectional-conductor railway system, a feeder connected with asource of currentsupply, a sectional Working conductor, normally openelectromagnetic switches for connecting the sections of said conductorwith said feeder, a signal mechanically connected to each of saidswitches for the purpose of indicating when said switches are in theirclosed position, and a lamp-signal in shunt to the actuating-coil ofeach of said switches for the purpose of indicating when said coils areenergized, one signal serving as a check on the other to indicate theelectrical condition of the sectional conductor.

4. Ina sectional-conductor railway system, a positive and a negativefeeder connected with a source of current-supply, a sectional workingconductor, an auxiliary sectional conductor, electromagnetic switchesfor connecting said positive feeder to the sections of said workingconductor, the actuating-coils of said switches being connected betweenthe sections of the auxiliary conductor and the negative feeder andelectric signals connected between the sections of the auxiliaryconductor and the negative feeder in parallel to said actuating-coils.

5. In combination, anormally open electromagnetic switch, asemaphore-disk mechanically operated by said switch, and a signallamp inshunt to the actuating-coil of said switch.

6. In combination, a normally open electromagnetic switch, a signaloperatively connected with said switch adapted to be moved in onedirection when the switch is opened and in the opposite direction whenthe switch is closed, and a lamp in shunt to the actuating coil of saidswitch by means of which the said signal is illuminated.

7. In combination, a gravity-opening electromagnetic switch, a casingfor completely inclosing said switch, awindow in said casing, asemaphore-disk mechanically operated by said switch and adapted to bemoved in front of said window when said switch is in its closedposition, a signal-lamp connected in shunt to the coil of saidelectromagnetic switch and mounted in front of said window and adaptedto indicate when said coil is energized, said lamp beingvisible throughthe semaphore-disk when the said disk has been moved in front of thewindow by the closing of the switch.

8. In combination, an electromagnetic switch, a casing for inclosingsaid switch provided with Windows,semaphore-disks mechanically operatedby said switch and adapted to be moved in front of said windows whensaid switch is in its closed position, a signal-lamp connected in shuntwith the actuating-coil of said electromagnetic switch and mountedbetween said windows and adapted to indicate when said coil isenergized, said lamp being Visible through an opening in each of thesemaphore-disks when said disks have been moved in front of the windowsby the closing of the switch.

9. In combination, an electromagnetic switch for sectional electricrailways, a solenoid for operating said switch, the core of saidsolenoid carrying the movable contacts of said switch, a casing for saidsolenoid anda semaphore-arm pivoted to said casing and mechanicallyconnected with said core, whereby said semaphore is moved through acertain angle when said core reciprocates.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of May,1902.

SAMUEL B. STEWVART, J R. WVitnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN ORFORD.

